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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Can we have something in place so that we can have a better idea if a namechanger is genuine?

87 replies

wannaBe · 26/02/2008 11:51

obviously wouldn't want to get rid of the namechange facility, but on other sites I've visited, when you click on someone's profile, it tells you when they joined the site, and how many board posts they've made. If we had this facility and someone namechanged, we could click on their profile and see if they're actually a regular, without being able to know who they are, but being able to have an idea whether they're a genuine namechanger who has posted regularly or someone who joined yesterday.

is this possible?

OP posts:
FAQ · 26/02/2008 12:06

I'm sure if you could look back at the first posts of most MN'ers they wouldn't seem "trollish" and probably weren't regarded as trollish at the time either.

I think the reverse would happen actually - someone new posts on something and they'll probably actually be welcomed to MN.

I can't say I've ever seen the "number of posts" thing causing any great issues on any other forums.

Original poster
wannaBe · 26/02/2008 12:05

I wouldn't say next to the name, I would put it in the profile so that people could check if they wished to do so but wouldn't be forced to see it next to every post, iyswim?

I think a lot of people would read the threads first and check if suspicious.

OP posts:
Boco · 26/02/2008 12:05

But then, say someone has an experience of domestic violence and doesn't want to post under her name as her sister in law is a mnetter, but needs some support. If her profile says she joined in March 2005 and she has 1008 posts, she would probably worry about being identifiable from that information and not bother seeking the support.

I don't think that it's abused enough to warrant paranoia - just a bit of common sense.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 26/02/2008 12:05

But I could then name change, and pull off a sick stunt, but would people be taken in by the fact it said

Elfonthetopshelf
1000 posts
Jointed Jan 05

ComeOVeneer · 26/02/2008 12:04

It is a tricky one as others have said it makes people immediately suspicious of newbies. Plus number of posts doesn't actually mean that anything is "genuine".

dustystar · 26/02/2008 12:02

I wouldn't want it next to each post. Maybe included as part of the search pages.

DualCycloneCod · 26/02/2008 12:02

they haev to mention the pouch of douglas

SoupDragon · 26/02/2008 12:02

This would make someone name changing for personal reasons identifiable.

The number of posts thing is horrible.

Also, it would change nothing. There have been several long-term trolls and several regulars trolling. It also would mean a newbie with a problem would be liable to being ignored or taken less seriously.

LadyOfWaffle · 26/02/2008 12:01

The only problem is the person could be genuine etc. but it be their first post...

Saturn74 · 26/02/2008 12:01

But then a new poster may be accused of being a troll just because they hadn't posted before.

FAQ · 26/02/2008 12:01

even just the number of posts by that user (under all usernames) would be enough. Not sure date joined would really help - as I "joined" MN several years before I began posting....

postingatlast · 26/02/2008 11:59

totally agree with wannaBe on this. Maybe we could have the info next to each post we make, as they do on most other forums. I.e. it could read:

Postingatlast
107 posts
Joined Jan 08

I think it would help poster's credibility and help maintain the integrity of the community...

I guess the only problem is the info contained could help people to work out who it relates to. i.e. if they know someone well, know they have posted over 1000 times and know when they joined, it could lead them to work out who it is.

Still think it is important to have some way of knowing the difference between a name changer and a newbie who is pretending to change names.